Freedom To Smoke
Our noble, ancient, and to some sacred, use of the tobacco pipe is under constant attack throughout our United States. Here in Washington we face some of the worst restrictions, being unable to smoke in any building that is open to the public, and those key words ‘open to the public’ are defined much broader than they would be under any reasonable manner of usage.
Our fine Seattle Pipe Club is able to meet publicly only because tribal law and tribal land gives us a safe haven for the moment.
Travel too has become difficult. Smoking rooms in hotels are becoming ever harder to find given the legal restrictions on their numbers, and I’ve noticed that in many establishments the rooms that are set aside for smokers are far from the best as those establishments apparently strive to be seen as politically correct corporate citizens.
This past week I tried something different. A week’s vacation which would have normally been spent in a fine hotel on the beach was instead spent in a top of the line and remarkably comfortable RV. A mode of travel that is growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, a form of travel I hadn’t experienced since I was a young child.
I must say, it was a great trip, and a great way to stay. The drive from our home in the Cascade Mountains of Washington to the Ocean Beaches of Oregon was easy, I suppose due mostly to the legendary handling characteristics of the Airstream Travel Trailer, and the comfort offered by this home away from home is amazing in it’s simplicity.
Best of all, this trip we had freedom. The freedom of being in our own home. I was able to sit in a comfortable chair, in the shade provided by an expansive Zip Dee awning, pipe in hand. Enjoying the majestic beauty of nature while at the same moment enjoying the unique beauty of a heavy English blend. A luxury few can experience in this day and age when modern health-fascists are doing all they can to outlaw all luxury, doing all they can to turn this great nation built upon liberty into a fascist state based upon their own twisted notions of caring for their neighbors.
I have wondered why RV travel is growing in popularity, why more and more individuals and families are embracing it. Most people who think about it seem to have concluded that it is because of cost. Travel in an RV can certainly be the least costly form of travel, so the low cost argument seems reasonable on its face.
Having thought about it further though, I doubt if that is the case. RV travel may be inexpensive, but it also requires a massive financial commitment at the start. Beautiful new Airstream Travel Trailers can easily run over $80k, and the lowest cost trailers made anywhere all seem to be over $10k. Neither of these numbers come close to touching the tremendous price tags of the Class A motorhomes that seem to be preferred by so many.
Much like with a boat, the purchase price is only the beginning of possible outlays, for amazing accessories abound. Wonderful items, gadgets, and gizmos, all designed to make life in that RV just a little bit better, all designed to separate the consumer from as much of his money as possible.
With this in mind, I don’t think that travel cost can be the primary reason for the popularity of RV travel.
I think the popularity stems from freedom. Pipe smokers can enjoy their favorite blend in comfort. Dog lovers can have their companion by their side. Erotic adventurers can install their eyebolts into their bedframe. All things difficult if not impossible to do while in a hotel.
This first trip a success we have decided to continue our explorations in RV travel. We will be enjoying a luxury, a level of freedom too often denied in this day of ever growing smoking bans.